Stop-gate



Patented July 5, I898. E. L. FORD.

STOP GATE.

(Application filed June 5, 1897.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOR.

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THE uonms vzrzns co. Pno-mumu, wasmnmow, n. c.

EINVARD Ii. FORD, OF YOUNGSTOlVN, OHIO.

sropeA'rs.

srncrnroarron forming part of Letters Patent no. 606,920, dated July 5,1898.

Application filed June 5, 1897.

T0 00% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDW'ARD L. FORD, of Youngstown, in the county ofMahoning and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Stop-Gates, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which- Figure l is a cross-section of thebin, showing the spout embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view ofthe spout. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the spout, showing thestop-gate open. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail views of the stop-gate.

In the drawings, 2 represents a bin for holding ore, limestone, &c., and3 3 are the spouts.

My invention relates to the valve or stopgate 4, which is used forclosing the spout and which consists of abutterfly plate having at themiddle opposite trunnions or pins 5, proj ecting from theedge andadapted to fit within slots 6, which allow to the trunnions not only arotary motion, but, when desired, a sliding motion. The perpendiculardistance from the trunnions to the bottom of the spout against which theend of the valve bears is, when the trunnions are at their lowestposition, less than the distance between the trunnions and the loweredge of the valve. The angle at which the valve when closed liesrelatively to the bottom of the spout is so related to the weight,height, and physical condition of the contents of the bin' and to theangle of the spout that the material may not of itself be able to unseatthe valve. On the outer sides of the spout are shelves 7, and at theends of the trunnions 5 are angled extensions or arms 8, one of whichwill engage the shelves 7 when the stop-gate is in the position shown inFig. 3.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the stop-gate is in theposition shown at the right of Fig. l, inclining inwardly, with itsbottom edge bearing upon the bottom plate of the spout, the pressure ofthe material in the bin acting against the stop-gate keeps the sameclosed. If it is desired to open the spout and to permit of thedischarge of material from the bin, the operator-pushes upwardly on thetop of the stop-gate, thereby raising its trunnions in the slots, so asto free the lower Serial No. 639,552. (No model.)

edge of the gate from the bottom of the spout, whereupon the material inthe bin forces the stop-gate open into a position parallel with thebottom of the spout, allowing the material to run freely under it. It isnot necessary for the operator to hold the stop-gate in this position,for the arms 8 being slightly longer than the distance between the shelf7 and the normal position of the trunnion when the stopgate is closedone of said arms will engage the shelf when the stop-gate is in theparallel position above mentioned and by acting frictionally will sohold the same. This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 3/

WVhen it is desired to close the stop-gate, the operator moves the samein the direction of the arrow A until its inner end comes into contactwith the moving material, which immediately forces it into the closedposition shown at the right of Fig. 1.

The device has proved to be very satisfactory in practice. It isespecially desirable when applied to the stopping of the spouts of binsfor coke, ore, and limestone, though it is of general application forlike purposes.

Within the scope of my invention, as defined in the claims of thisspecification, many changes in the construction and form of the partsmay be made by the skilled mechanic, since I claim 1. A rotary stop-gateor valve for spouts, in combination with a bottom or rest upon which itis adapted when closed to bear, said gate or valve having an axismovable away from the bottom or rest, to permit it to be swung open;substantially as described.

2. A rotary stop-gate or valve for spouts, in combination with a bottomor rest upon which it is adapted when closed to bear in an inclinedposition, said gate or valve having an axis at a middle point movableaway from the bottom or rest, to permit it to be swung open;substantially as described.

3. A rotary stop-gate or valve having at a middle point journals mountedin slots, a shelf or surface, and an arm adapted to bear frictionallyupon the shelf and to hold the gate in open position, substantially asdescribed.

4- The combination with a spout, of a rotary stop-gate or valve pivotedin bearings permitting a vertical movement, the distance from the pivotto end, of the valve being greater than the distance from thetrunnionbearings to the bottom of the spout, whereby the valve in makinga revolution must rise in the bearings, substantially as set forth.

5. A rotary stop-gate or valve with pivots mounted in slots, a shelf,and an arm arranged to bear frictionally upon the shelf, the arm beinglonger than the normal distance of the axis of the valve to the shelf,so that the valve in revolving must be raised when the arm engages theshelf, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a spout, of a 1'0- my hand.

EDXVARD L. FORD. Witnesses:

F. l). J ONES, W. R. MERRICK.

